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Good point. And the U. S. Navy was formed for similar reasons, back when what we now call "Islamic terrorism" was Islamic "piracy." This has been our battle for over 200 years, and it's likely to go on for a long time to come.
Not to mention our Marines were created for the same reason. This is really going to sound tin-foilish, but I had often wondered after 9/11 if one of the reasons related back to those events almost 200 years ago. We're not taking rational people here, so many the idea isn't too far out.

I think you're on to something.

Conflicts between Islam and Chrisitanity have been going on for 1,200 years or more and seem likely to continue, I'm sorry to say. The sort of battles we fight will change -- OBL is a lot different than the Barbary Pirates -- but the battle remains.

I think our efforts in Iraq are the first real hopeful action that the West has taken in the whole length of the conflict. The only hope for winding down this battle is for Islamic countries to get a little prosperity, freedom, tolerance, pluaralism, etc.

I don't know if we'll succeed or not in Iraq, but I'm thrilled that we're trying. The only real danger of failure comes from within the U. S. -- if the libs can make us cut and run.